Polycarbodiimides having onium salt groups

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are polycarbodiimides having onium salt groups, as well as methods for their production.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/370,123, entitled, “Coating Compositions That Include Onium SaltGroup Containing Polycarbodiimides”, filed concurrently herewith; and(ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/370,161, entitled“Antimicrobial Coating Compositions, Related Coatings and CoatedSubstrates”, also filed concurrently herewith.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to polycarbodiimides having onium saltgroups.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is sometimes desirable to include agents, such as quaternary oniumsalts, silver ions, iodine ions, and the like, into coatings in order toprovide a surface that is capable of killing harmful microorganisms.

Silver ions, for example, are sometimes embedded in a porous material,such as zeolite, which is incorporated into a coating composition. Inthese situations, the silver ions are released gradually into thecoating to impart antimicrobial properties, but the eventually depletionof the silver ions will ultimately render the coating ineffective.Moreover, a significant problem associated with such antimicrobialagents is their tendency to cause discoloration of the composition intowhich they are incorporated. This discoloration results from theinteraction of silver ions with other compounds, ions, and the likepresent in the composition into which the antimicrobial agent isincorporated. As will be appreciated, such discoloration can beparticularly problematic in coatings applications where decorativeproperties are often critical.

Quaternary onium salts can be effective antimicrobial agents in coatingcompositions, because they are known to selectively attack bacterialcells and not mammalian cells. Unfortunately, these materials aretypically unreactive with the primary film forming resin binder of thecoating composition, such as resins containing carboxylic acid groups,which are often employed in thermosetting compositions. As a result,such onium salts are susceptible to leaching out of or phase separatingfrom the binder, thereby rendering the onium salt ineffective and/or thecoating composition unsuitable for use for other reasons.

As a result, it would be desirable to provide antimicrobial coatingcompositions that include an antimicrobial agent that will not bedepleted and will not phase separate in a coating composition comprisinga film-forming resin binder having functional groups. The presentinvention has been developed in view of the foregoing desire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In certain respects, the present invention is directed topolycarbodiimides comprising terminal onium salt groups, wherein theterminal onium salt groups comprise a halogen counterion. Suchpolycarbodiimides may, in certain embodiments, also comprise pendantonium salt groups

In other respects, the present invention is directed topolycarbodiimides comprising pendant onium salt group. Suchpolycarbodiimides may, in certain embodiments, also comprise terminalonium salt groups.

The present invention is also directed to, inter alia, methods formaking such polycarbodiimides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of the following detailed description, it is to beunderstood that the invention may assume various alternative variationsand step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary.Moreover, other than in any operating examples, or where otherwiseindicated, all numbers expressing, for example, quantities ofingredients used in the specification and claims are to be understood asbeing modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unlessindicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in thefollowing specification and attached claims are approximations that mayvary depending upon the desired properties to be obtained by the presentinvention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit theapplication of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims,each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of thenumber of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary roundingtechniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forththe broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely aspossible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certainerrors necessarily resulting from the standard variation found in theirrespective testing measurements.

Also, it should be understood that any numerical range recited herein isintended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. For example, arange of “1 to 10” is intended to include all sub-ranges between (andincluding) the recited minimum value of 1 and the recited maximum valueof 10, that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1 and amaximum value of equal to or less than 10.

As indicated, certain embodiments of the present invention are directedto polycarbodiimides. As used herein, the term “polycarbodiimide” refersto a polymer containing two or more units having the structure:—N═C═N—As used herein, the term “polymer” includes oligomers and bothhomopolymers and copolymers, and the prefix “poly” refers to two ormore. As will be appreciated, polycarbodiimides can generally beprepared by condensation reacting a polyisocyanate in the presence of asuitable catalyst to form a polycarbodiimide having terminalNCO-functionality.

Suitable polyisocyanates for use in the foregoing condensation reaction,include, without limitation, aliphatic, including cycloaliphatic,heterocyclic, and/or aromatic polyisocyanates. Such polyisocyanates cancontain, for example, from 2 to 4, such as 2 isocyanate groups permolecule. Examples of suitable higher polyisocyanates are 1,2,4-benzenetriisocyanate and polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate. Examples ofsuitable aromatic diisocyanates are 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate,1,3-phenylene diisocyanate, 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate and tolylenediisocyanate. Examples of suitable aliphatic diisocyanates are straightchain aliphatic diisocyanates such as 1,4-tetramethylene diisocyanateand 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate. Examples of suitable cycloaliphaticdiisocyanates are 1,4-cyclohexyl diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate,alpha, alpha-xylylene diisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethyldiisocyanate(“TMXDI”), and 4,4-methylene-bis(cyclohexyl isocyanate). Substitutedorganic polyisocyanates can also be used in which the substituents arenitro, chloro, alkoxy and other groups that are not reactive withhydroxyl groups or active hydrogens and provided the substituents arenot positioned to render the isocyanate group unreactive.

Thioisocyanates can be employed as well as mixed compounds containingboth an isocyanate and a thioisocyanate group. The terms“polyisocyanate” and “diisocyanate”, as used herein, are intended tocover compounds and adducts containing thioisocyanate groups orisocyanate groups and compounds and adducts containing both isocyanateand thioisocyanate groups.

The polyisocyanate can be an NCO-containing adduct such as would beformed, for example, when an active hydrogen-containing compound ispresent before or during polycarbodiimide formation, as described below.

As previously indicated, the present invention is directed topolycarbodiimides comprising pendant and/or terminal onium salt groups,wherein the terminal onium salt groups comprise a halogen counterion.Thus, certain embodiments of the present invention are directed topolycarbodiimides terminated with halogen counterion-containing oniumsalts. As used herein, the term “halogen counterion-containing oniumsalts” refers to onium salts wherein the counterion to the onium ioncomprises a halogen ion, such as a fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and/oriodine ion.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the polycarbodiimidesterminated with halogen counterion-containing onium salts have thestructure (I) or (II):

in which: (a) each R is a divalent linking group and each may be thesame or different; (b) R₁ is A when y is 1 and is the residue of anactive hydrogen-containing chain extender when y is at least 2; (c) eachR₂ is a linking group and may be the same or different; (d) each X is O,NH, or S and may be the same or different; (e) n has a value of at least2; (f) p has a value of 1 to 3; and (g) y has a value of 1 to 4; and (h)each A is represented by the structure (III):

in which: (1) each X is N or P and may be the same or different; (2)each Y is a halogen and may be the same or different; (3) each Z is O,NH, or S and may be the same or different; (4) each R₃ is a divalentlinking group and may be the same or different; and (5) each R₄ is amonovalent group and may be the same or different.

In the foregoing structures (I) and (II), n has a value of at least 2,in some cases at least 3. In certain embodiments, n in the foregoingstructures has a value of not more than 100, such as not more than 20,not more than 10, or, in some cases, not more than 5. The value of “n”can range between any combination of the recited values inclusive of therecited values.

In the foregoing structures (I) and (II), R and R₃ are both divalentlinking groups. As used herein, “divalent” refers to a substituent groupthat, as a substituent group, forms two single, covalent bonds. Incertain embodiments, the divalent linking group comprises carbon in thelinking group backbone, such as is the case with hydrocarbon andfluorocarbon linking groups. As used herein, the terms “hydrocarbongroup” and “fluorocarbon group” encompass various groups, such as, forexample, branched or unbranched, acyclic or cyclic, saturated orunsaturated groups, and can contain from, for example, 1 to 24 (or inthe case of an aromatic group from 3 to 24) carbon atoms. Non-limitingexamples of suitable divalent hydrocarbon linking groups includestraight or branched chain alkylenes, such as methylene, ethylene,1,3-propylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,4-butylene, 1,2-butylene, pentylene,hexylene, heptylene, octylene, nonylene, decylene, undecylene,octadecylene and icosylene. Non-limiting examples of suitable divalenthydrocarbon linking groups also include cyclic alkylenes, such ascyclopentylene, cyclohexylene, cycloheptylene, cyclooctylene, andalkyl-substituted derivatives thereof. In certain embodiments, thedivalent linking group can be chosen from phenylene andalkyl-substituted phenylene, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyland nonyl substituted phenylene.

In the foregoing structures (I) and (II), each R₄ represents a“monovalent group”. As used herein, “monovalent” refers to a substituentgroup that, as a substituent group, forms only one single, covalentbond. In certain embodiments, the monovalent group is a monovalenthydrocarbon group, such as, for example, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy,aryl, alkenyl, alkaryl, and alkoxyaryl groups. Nonlimiting examples ofsuitable alkyl groups include, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl,isopropyl, iso-butyl, t-butyl, n-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl,nonyl, decyl, and dodecyl groups. As used herein, “lower alkyl” refersto alkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Nonlimiting examples ofsuitable alkenyl groups include, for example, vinyl, allyl, and hexenyl.Nonlimiting examples of suitable substituted alkyl groups include, forexample, chloromethyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, and 6-chlorohexyl.Nonlimiting examples of suitable cycloalkyl groups include, for example,cyclohexyl and cyclooctyl. Nonlimiting examples of suitable aryl groupsinclude, for example, phenyl and naphthyl. Nonlimiting examples ofsuitable substituted aryl groups include, for example, benzyl, tolyl andethylphenyl.

In the foregoing structure (I), R₁ is A when y is 1 and, alternatively,is the residue of an active hydrogen-containing chain extender when y isat least 2. More specifically, the residue of an activehydrogen-containing chain extender will have the structure (IV):

in which y is as described above in structure (I) and R₅ is a divalentlinking group when y is 2, a trivalent linking group with y is 3, and atetravalent linking group when y is 4. Suitable divalent linking groupsfor R₅ include, for example, any of the divalent linking groupsreferenced earlier with respect to R and R₃. Suitable trivalent linkinggroups include, for example, a trivalent group resulting from removal ofa hydrogen atom from a backbone carbon in any of such divalent linkinggroups. Suitable tetravalent linking groups include, for example, atetravalent group resulting from removal of two hydrogen atoms from abackbone carbon in any of such divalent linking groups.

In the foregoing structure (II), R₂ is a linking group. Moreparticularly, R₂ is a divalent linking group when p is 1, a trivalentlinking group when p is 2, and a tetravalent linking group when p is 3.Suitable divalent linking groups for R₂ include, for example, any of thedivalent linking groups referenced earlier with respect to R and R₃.Suitable trivalent linking groups include, for example, a trivalentgroup resulting from removal of a hydrogen atom from a backbone carbonin any of such divalent linking groups. Suitable tetravalent hydrocarbonlinking groups include, for example, a tetravalent group resulting fromremoval of two hydrogen atoms from a backbone carbon in any of suchdivalent linking groups.

The foregoing polycarbodiimides terminated with halogencounterion-containing onium salts can be made by any of a variety ofmethods starting from a polycarbodiimide having terminalNCO-functionality produced as described earlier, for example. Moreover,the polycarbodiimides of the present invention can be produced with orwithout use of an active hydrogen-containing chain extender.

The active hydrogen-containing chain extender is a spacer linkingpolyisocyanates together or linking isocyanate functionalpolycarbodiimides together, depending upon when the active hydrogencompound is added. For example, the chain extender can be added before,during, or after formation of the polycarbodiimide having terminalNCO-functionality described earlier. The foregoing polycarbodiimidesterminated with halogen counterion-containing onium salts will have: (a)the structure (I) wherein y is 1 when no chain extender is employed; (b)the structure (I) wherein y is at least 2, such as 2 to 4, when thechain extender is added after formation of an isocyanate terminatedpolycarbodiimide as described above; and (c) the structure (II) when thechain extender is present before or during formation of the isocyanateterminated polycarbodiimide as described above.

Any suitable organic compound containing active hydrogens may be used asthe chain extender, if a chain extender is employed. The term “activehydrogen atoms” refers to hydrogens which, because of their position inthe molecule, display activity according to the Zerewitinoff test.Accordingly, active hydrogens include hydrogen atoms attached to oxygen,nitrogen, or sulfur, and thus useful compounds will include those havingat least two hydroxyl, thiol, primary amine, and/or secondary aminegroups (in any combination). In certain embodiments, the activehydrogen-containing chain extender contains from 2 to 4 active hydrogensper molecule.

Examples of such compounds include amines, which includes polyamines,aminoalcohols, mercapto-terminated derivatives, and alcohols thatincludes polyhydroxy materials (polyols). Suitable polyhydroxylmaterials or polyols include low or high molecular weight materials andin, in certain cases, have average hydroxyl values as determined by ASTMdesignation E-222-67, Method B, of 2000 and below, such as between below2000 and 10. The term “polyol” is meant to include materials having anaverage of two or more hydroxyl groups per molecule.

Suitable polyols include low molecular weight diols, triols and higheralcohols, low molecular weight amide-containing polyols and higherpolymeric polyols such as polyester polyols, polyether polyols,polycarbonate polyols and hydroxy-containing (meth)acrylic polymers. Thepolymers typically have hydroxyl values of from 10 to 180.

The low molecular weight diols, triols and higher alcohols useful in theinstant invention are known in the art. They have hydroxy values of 200or above, usually within the range of 200 to 2000. Such materialsinclude aliphatic polyols, particularly alkylene polyols containing from2 to 18 carbon atoms. Examples include ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol,1,6-hexanediol; cycloaliphatic polyols such as 1,2-cyclohexanediol andcyclohexane dimethanol. Examples of triols and higher alcohols includetrimethylol propane, glycerol and pentaerythritol. Also useful arepolyols containing ether linkages such as diethylene glycol andtriethylene glycol and oxyalkylated glycerol and longer chain diols suchas dimer diol or hydroxy ethyl dimerate.

As described above, to manufacture a polycarbodiimide, an isocyanateterminated polycarbodiimide is first formed by condensation reacting apolyisocyanate, which may or may not have been previously chain extendedby the reaction of a polyisocyanate with an active-hydrogen containingchain extender of the type previously described. The polyisocyanate iscondensed with the elimination of carbon dioxide to form theisocyanate-terminated polycarbodiimide.

The condensation reaction is typically conducted by taking the solutionof a polyisocyanate and heating in the presence of suitable catalyst.Such reaction is described, for example by K. Wagner et al., Angew.Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., vol. 20, p. 819-830 (1981). Representativeexamples of suitable catalysts are described in e.g. U.S. Pat. No.2,941,988, U.S. Pat. No. 3,862,989 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,251. Examplesinclude 1-ethyl-3-phospholine, 1-ethyl-3-methyl-3-phospholine-1-oxide,1-ethyl-3-methyl-3-phospholine-1-sulfide,1-ethyl-3-methyl-phospholidine, 1-methylphospholen-1-oxide,1-ethyl-3-methyl-phospholidine-1-oxide,3-methyl-1-phenyl-3-phospholine-1-oxide and bicyclic terpene alkyl orhydrocarbyl aryl phosphine oxide or camphene phenyl phosphine oxide.

The particular amount of catalyst used will depend to a large extent onthe reactivity of the catalyst itself and the polyisocyanate being used.A concentration range of 0.05-5 parts of catalyst per 100 parts ofadduct is generally suitable.

The resulting polycarbodimide has terminal isocyanate groups. Theisocyanate-terminated polycarbodiimide can then be further reacted toform a halogen counterion-containing onium salt group terminatedpolycarbodiimide. Such halogen counterion-containing onium salt groupterminated polycarbodiimides can be prepared by a variety of methods.

In certain embodiments, to manufacture a polycarbodiimide terminatedwith halogen counterion-containing onium salts of the type describedabove, an isocyanate terminated polycarbodiimide is reacted with ahalogen counterion-containing onium salt comprising an active hydrogengroup, such as, for example, one or more hydroxyalkylammonium compounds,aminoalkylammonium compounds, thiolalkylammonium compounds,hydroxyalkylphosphonium compounds, aminoalkylphosphonium compounds, andthiolalkylphosphonium compounds. Specific examples of suitablehydroxyalkylammonium compounds include, without limitation,N,N,N-trimethyl-hydroxymethylammonium chloridelbromide/iodide,N,N,N-trimethyl-hydroxyethylammonium chloridelbromide/iodide andN-oleyl-N,N-dimethyl-hydroxymethylammonium bromide/chloride/iodide.

The Examples set forth herein illustrate suitable conditions forcarrying out the foregoing reaction. In certain embodiments, reaction ofthe halogen counterion-containing onium salt comprising an activehydrogen group with the NCO-containing carbodiimide is conducted with astoichiometric equivalent of onium salts to NCO equivalents or a slightexcess of onium salts and at a temperature of, for example, 80 to 110°C. until an IR spectrum of the reaction mixture indicates substantiallyno remaining NCO functionality. Organic solvent can optionally bepresent. Moreover, a catalyst may be used if desired to catalyze thereaction of the isocyanate groups with the active hydrogen groups.Suitable catalysts include organotin compounds such as dibutyltin oxide,dioctyltin oxide, dibutyltin dilaurate, and the like.

In other embodiments, to manufacture a polycarbodiimide terminated withhalogen counterion-containing onium salts as described above, thepreviously described isocyanate terminated polycarbodiimide is firstreacted with a compound having the structure (V):

wherein R is a divalent linking group, such as any of those describedearlier, and Z is an active hydrogen group, such as any of thosedescribed earlier, to form a polycarbodiimide having terminal groupshaving the structure (VI):

wherein R is a divalent linking group, such as any of those describedearlier, and Z is the residue of an active hydrogen group, such as, forexample, O, S or NH.

In certain embodiments, the compound of the structure (V) includes analcohol amine having at least one primary, secondary, or tertiary aminogroup and at least one hydroxyl group. Examples of such alcohol aminesinclude, but are not limited to, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine,dimethylaminoethanol, diisopropanolamine, dimethylaminopropanol,aminopropyldiethanolamine, diethylaminopropylamine,hydroxyalkylmorpholine, such as hydroxyethylmorpholine, andhydroxyalkylpiperazine, such as hydroxyethylpiperazine, and the like andmixtures thereof.

The Examples set forth herein illustrate suitable conditions forcarrying out the foregoing reaction. In certain embodiments, thereaction is conducted at a temperature of, for example, 80 to 110° C.until an IR spectrum of the reaction mixture indicates substantially noremaining NCO functionality. Organic solvent and/or a catalyst canoptionally be present.

In these embodiments, the resultant polycarbodiimide having terminalgroups having the structure (VI) is then reacted with a halide, such asan alkyl, cycloalkyl and aralkyl, or benzyl halide to form a halogencounterion-containing onium salt group terminated polycarbodiimide ofthe present invention. Suitable such halides for use in the presentinvention include, for example, primary alkyl halides such as1-bromooctane, 1-bromododecane or 1-bromohexadecane. In certainembodiments, it is desirable to employ an alkyl halide containing atleast four carbon atoms, such as 1-bromodecane, 10-bromo-1-decanol, and1-bromododecane. In certain embodiments, it is desirable to employ analkyl halide wherein the alkyl moiety is straight-chain or has a—CH(CH₃)— group and contains a total of 6 to 16 carbon atoms, forexample, 1-bromohexane, 1-bromododecane and 1,6-dichlorohexane.

The Examples set forth herein illustrate suitable conditions forcarrying out the foregoing reaction, which is often conducted at atemperature of, for example, 80 to 110° C. Organic solvent and/or acatalyst, such as potassium carbonate, can optionally be present.

In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed topolycarbodiimides comprising pendant onium salt groups. Such pendantonium salt groups may be in addition to or in lieu of the previouslydescribed terminal onium salt groups. These polycarbodiimides of thepresent invention comprise a unit having the general structure (VII):

wherein: (a) X is N or P; (b) Y is an anion, such as a halogen, OH, BF₄,BF₆, PF₆, AsF₆, CF₃SO₃, ClO₄, or an anion of organic sulfonic acid; (c)R₆ is a divalent linking group; and (d) each R₇ is H or a monovalentgroup and may be the same or different.

In the foregoing structure (VII), R₆ is a divalent linking group.Suitable divalent linking groups for R₆ include, for example, any of thedivalent linking groups referenced earlier with respect to R and R₃ instructures (I) and (II).

In the foregoing structure (VII), each R₇ represents hydrogen or amonovalent group. Suitable monovalent groups for R₇ include, forexample, any of the monovalent groups referenced earlier with respect toR₄ in structures (I) and (II).

The pendant onium salt group containing polycarbodiimides of the presentinvention can be made by any of a variety of methods starting from apolycarbodiimide having terminal NCO-functionality produced as describedearlier, for example. Moreover, the polycarbodiimides of the presentinvention can be produced with or without use of an activehydrogen-containing chain extender. Suitable chain extenders include anyof those described earlier with respect to the preparation ofpolycarbodiimides terminated with halogen counterion-containing oniumsalts.

Depending upon whether a chain extender is employed and, if so, when itis added, certain embodiments of the polycarbodiimides of the presentinvention will have the structure (VIII) or (IX):

in which: (a) each R₈ is a divalent linking group and each may be thesame or different; (b) R₉ is A when y is 1 and is the residue of anactive hydrogen-containing chain extender when y is at least 2; (c) eachR₁₀ is a linking group and may be the same or different; (d) each X isO, NH, or S and may be the same or different; (e) each n has a value ofat least 1 and may be the same or different wherein at least one n has avalue of at least 2; (f) p has a value of 1 to 3; (g) y has a value of 1to 4; (h) each A represents a terminal group, in some cases a reactivefunctional group, such as an isocyanate group; (i) each A₁ represents aunit having the general structure (VIII) or a —N═C═N— unit; and (j) eachA₂ represents a unit having the structure (X):

wherein R₈ is as defined above.

In certain embodiments of the foregoing structures (VIII) and (IX), nhas a value of at least 2, in some cases at least 3. In certainembodiments, n in the foregoing structures has a value of not more than100, such as not more than 20, not more than 10, or, in some cases, notmore than 5. The value of “n” can range between any combination of therecited values inclusive of the recited values.

Such polycarbodiimides comprising pendant onium salts will have: (a) thestructure (VIII) wherein y is 1 when no chain extender is employed; (b)the structure (VIII) wherein y is at least 2, such as 2 to 4, when thechain extender is added after formation of an isocyanate terminatedpolycarbodiimide; and (c) the structure (IX) when the chain extender ispresent before or during formation of the isocyanate terminatedpolycarbodiimide.

A polycarbodiimide comprising pendant onium salt groups can be preparedby a variety of methods. In certain embodiments, to manufacture apolycarbodiimide comprising pendant onium salts, a polycarbodiimide,such as the previously described isocyanate terminated polycarbodiimide,is reacted with an onium salt comprising carbodiimide reactive groups,such as a compound containing an onium group linked to a carboxylicacid. Non-limiting examples of such compounds are betaine hydrochlorideand betaine hydrobromide.

The Examples set forth herein illustrate suitable conditions forcarrying out the foregoing reaction. The reaction of thepolycarbodiimide with the onium salt comprising carbodiimide reactivegroups is desirably conducted with a stoichiometric excess ofcarbodiimide groups to carbodiimide reactive groups so that carbodiimidegroups remain on the main chain of the reaction product. In certainembodiments, the foregoing reaction takes place at a temperature of, forexample, 40 to 70° C. and may take place in the presence of an organicsolvent and/or catalyst.

In other embodiments, a polycarbodiimide comprising pendant onium saltsis prepared by first reacting a polycarbodiimide, such as the previouslydescribed isocyanate terminated polycarbodiimide, with an amino acid,i.e., a molecule containing both amine and carboxyl functional groups,to form a polycarbodiimide comprising a unit having the generalstructure (XI):

wherein R₁₁ is a divalent linking group, such as any of those describedearlier with respect to R and R₃, and Z is the residue of an activehydrogen group, such as, for example, O, S or NH.

Examples of suitable amino acids include alanine, glycine, N-acetylglycine, aminocaproic acid, alpha-amino hexanoic acid (norleucine),methionine, serine, threonine, aspartic acid, (2-amino succinic acid)and the like.

The reaction of the polycarbodiimide with the amino acid is desirablyconducted with a stoichiometric excess of carbodiimide groups to acidgroups so that carbodiimide groups remain on the main chain of thereaction product. In certain embodiments, the reaction is conducted at atemperature of, for example, 80 to 110° C. and may take place in thepresence of organic solvent and/or a catalyst.

In these embodiments, the resultant polycarbodiimide comprising a unithaving the general structure (XI) is then reacted with a halide, such asan alkyl, cycloalkyl and aralkyl, or benzyl halide to form apolycarbodiimide of the present invention. Suitable such halides for usein this reaction, for example, an alkyl, cycloalkyl and aralkyl, orbenzyl halides. Suitable such halides for use in the present inventioninclude, for example, primary alkyl halides such as 1-bromooctane,1-bromododecane or 1-bromohexadecane. In certain embodiments, it isdesirable to employ an alkyl halide containing at least four carbonatoms, such as 1-bromodecane, 10-bromo-1-decanol, and 1-bromododecane.In certain embodiments, it is desirable to employ an alkyl halidewherein the alkyl moiety is straight-chain or has a —CH(CH₃)— group andcontains a total of 6 to 16 carbon atoms, for example, 1-bromohexane,1-bromododecane and 1,6-dichlorohexane.

The foregoing reaction is often conducted at a temperature of, forexample, 80 to 110° C. Organic solvent and/or a catalyst can optionallybe present.

In certain embodiments, the isocyanate terminated polycarbodiimide isreacted with a compound comprising an active hydrogen group in order tochange the terminal group functionality of the polycarbodiimide fromisocyanate to another functionality or, if desired, to render theterminal ends of the polycarbodiimide nonfunctional. Reaction of theterminal end groups of the polycarbodiimide with a compound comprisingan active hydrogen group can take place before, during, or afterformation of a pendant onium salt containing polycarbodiimide of thepresent invention.

In certain embodiments, for example, the terminal isocyanate groups ofthe polycarbodiimide are capped by reaction of the isocyanate groupswith a compound comprising one active hydrogen group. Any suitablealiphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic alkyl monoalcohol or phenoliccompound or oxime or lactam or amine may be used as a capping agent.Nonexclusive examples include: lower aliphatic alcohols such asmethanol, ethanol, n-butanol and long chain alcohols, such as1-(hexadecylamino)icosan-3-one; cycloaliphatic alcohols such ascyclohexanol; aromatic-alkyl alcohols such as phenyl carbinol andmethylphenyl carbinol; and phenolic compounds such as phenol itself andsubstituted phenols wherein the substituents do not affect coatingoperations such as cresol and nitrophenol. Glycol ethers may also beused as capping agents. Suitable glycol ethers include ethylene glycolbutyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl etherand propylene glycol methyl ether. Diethylene glycol butyl ether ispreferred among the glycol ethers. Other suitable capping agents includeoximes such as methyl ethyl ketoxime, acetone oxime and cyclohexanoneoxime, lactams such as epsilon-caprolactam, and amines such as dibutylamine benzylamine, ethylamine, n-propylamine, isopropylamine,n-butylamine, iso-butylamine tert.-butylamine, cyclohexylamine,dibutylamine, diethylamine and diethanolamine.

The foregoing reaction results in a polycarbodiimide wherein, in certainembodiments, A in structures (VIII) and (IX) is represented by thestructure (XII):

in which X is O or NH and R is a monovalent group, such as any of thosedescribed earlier.

In certain embodiments, the terminal isocyanate groups of thepolycarbodiimide are capped by reaction of the isocyanate groups with acompound comprising an active hydrogen group and an onium salt group,such as a halogen counterion-containing onium salt, as described above,to product a polycarbodiimide comprising pendant and terminal oniumsalts.

In certain embodiments, a polycarbodiimide of the present invention canbe used in coating compositions to impart antimicrobial properties tosuch compositions. In certain embodiments, therefore, such coatingcompositions are “antimicrobial coating compositions.” As used herein,the term “antimicrobial coating composition” refers to a coatingcomposition capable of producing a coating that has the ability toeffect a significant, such as at least a 90% reduction (1-log orderreduction), in the population of bacteria and other microbes, andthereby control the growth of microorganisms. The control of the growthof microorganisms may also be referred to as antimicrobial activity.Also, in certain embodiments, the antimicrobial compositions of theinvention can provide a coating that causes greater than a 99% reduction(2-log order reduction), such as greater than a 99.99% reduction (4-logorder reduction), or, in some cases, greater than a 99.999% reduction(5-log order reduction) in the microbial population in contact with thecoating.

Such coating compositions often comprise a film-forming resin that isdifferent from the polycarbodiimides described above. As used herein,the term “film-forming resin” refers to resins that can form aself-supporting continuous film on at least a horizontal surface of asubstrate upon removal of any diluents or carriers present in thecomposition or upon curing at ambient or elevated temperature.

Film-forming resins that may be used in such coating compositionsinclude, without limitation, those used in automotive OEM coatingcompositions, automotive refinish coating compositions, industrialcoating compositions, architectural coating compositions, coil coatingcompositions, protective and marine coating compositions, and aerospacecoating compositions, among others.

In certain embodiments, the film-forming resin included within thecoating composition comprises a thermosetting film-forming resin. Asused herein, the term “thermosetting” refers to resins that “set”irreversibly upon curing or crosslinking, wherein the polymer chains ofthe polymeric components are joined together by covalent bonds. Thisproperty is usually associated with a cross-linking reaction of thecomposition constituents often induced, for example, by heat orradiation. See Hawley, Gessner G., The Condensed Chemical Dictionary,Ninth Edition., page 856; Surface Coatings, vol. 2, Oil and ColourChemists' Association, Australia, TAFE Educational Books (1974). Curingor crosslinking reactions also may be carried out under ambientconditions. Once cured or crosslinked, a thermosetting resin will notmelt upon the application of heat and is insoluble in solvents. In otherembodiments, the film-forming resin included within the coatingcomposition comprises a thermoplastic resin. As used herein, the term“thermoplastic” refers to resins that comprise polymeric components thatare not joined by covalent bonds and thereby can undergo liquid flowupon heating and are soluble in solvents. See Saunders, K. J., OrganicPolymer Chemistry, pp. 41-42, Chapman and Hall, London (1973).

One particular advantage of the polycarbodiimides of the presentinvention is that the carbodiimide groups on the polymer are susceptibleto crosslinking with certain functional group containing resins, such ascarboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, phosphine, and acetylinic functional groupcontaining resins, to form a thermoset coating in which the terminaland, optionally, pendant onium salt groups are stabilized in thecoating.

In certain embodiments, the coating composition comprises a film-formingresin comprising carboxylic acid functional groups. In theseembodiments, the carboxyl-containing resin is not particularlyrestricted but may be, for example, a carboxyl-containing polyesterresin, acrylic resin and/or polyurethane resin.

Suitable carboxyl-containing polyester resins can be prepared bycondensation in the conventional manner, such as from an alcoholcomponent and an acid component. The polyester resin so referred toherein includes the so-called alkyd resins as well.

As to the above alcohol component, there may be specifically mentionedthose having two or more hydroxy groups within each molecule, such astriols such as trimethylolpropane and hexanetriol, and diols such aspropylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol,octylene glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol,1,10-decanediol, 1,12-dodecanediol, 1,2-cyclohexanediol,1,3-cyclohexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, hydrogenated bisphenol A,caprolactone diol and bishydroxyethyltaurine. The above alcoholcomponent may comprise two or more species.

The above acid component specifically includes those having two or morecarboxyl groups within each molecule, for example aromatic dicarboxylicacids such as phthalic acid and isophthalic acid, aliphatic dicarboxylicacids such as adipic acid, azelaic acid and tetrahydrophthalic acid, andtricarboxylic acids such as trimellitic acid. Furthermore, mention maybe made of long-chain fatty acids such as stearic acid, lauric acid andlike ones, oleic acid, myristic acid and like unsaturated ones, naturalfats or oils such as castor oil, palm oil and soybean oil andmodifications thereof. The above acid component may comprise two or morespecies.

Diacids and diols of fatty acids such as EMPOL 1010 fatty diacid fromthe Cognis Emery Group can be used or its corresponding diol can beused.

Furthermore, as the one having a hydroxyl group(s) and a carboxylgroup(s) within each molecule, there may be mentioned hydroxycarboxylicacids such as dimethylolpropionic acid and the like.

In cases where the polyester resin obtained has hydroxy groups, thewhole or part thereof may be modified with an acid anhydride, such asphthalic anhydride, succinic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride ortrimellitic anhydride, so that the resin may have carboxyl groups.

Suitable carboxyl-containing acrylic resins can be obtained in theconventional manner, specifically by solution or emulsionpolymerization, of a carboxyl-containing ethylenically unsaturatedmonomer and another ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

Exemplary carboxyl-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomers includeacrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, crotonic acid, maleicacid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, half esters thereof such as maleicacid ethyl ester, fumaric acid ethyl ester and itaconic acid ethylester, succinic acid mono(meth)acryloyloxyethyl ester, phthalic acidmono(meth)acryloyloxyethyl ester and the like, including mixturesthereof.

Exemplary other ethylenically unsaturated monomer includehydroxy-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 4-hydroxybutylacrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl methacrylate and products derived therefrom byreaction with lactones; amide-containing ethylenically unsaturatedmonomers, such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide,N-butylacrylamide, N,N-dibutylacrylamide, hydroxymethylacrylamide,methoxymethylacrylamide and butoxymethylacrylamide and like(meth)acrylamides; and nonfunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomers,such as styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, acrylate esters (e.g. methylacrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate) andmethacrylate esters (e.g. methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate,butylmethacrylate, isobutylmethacrylate, tert-butyl methacrylate,2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate), and so forth, includingmixtures thereof.

For obtaining the desired resin by emulsion polymerization, specificallya carboxyl-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer, anotherethylenically unsaturated monomer, and an emulsifier are often subjectedto polymerization in water. As specific examples of thecarboxyl-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer and of the otherethylenically unsaturated monomer, there may be mentioned those alreadymentioned hereinabove. The emulsifier is not particularly restricted butmay be any of those well known to a skilled person in the art.

Suitable carboxyl-containing polyurethane resins can be produced, forexample, by reacting a compound having an isocyanato group at bothtermini and a compound having two hydroxy groups and at least onecarboxyl group.

The compound having an isocyanato group at both termini can be prepared,for example, by reacting a hydroxy-terminated polyol and a diisocyanatecompound, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Thecompound having two hydroxy groups and at least one carboxyl group is,for example, dimethylolacetic acid, dimethylolpropionic acid ordimethylolbutyric acid.

The coating composition may comprise two or more species of thecarboxyl-containing resin.

The acid value carboxyl-containing resin is not particularly restrictedbut is often from 2 to 200, such as 2 to 30 or 20 to 200.

The coating compositions can be organic solvent borne or waterborne,i.e., aqueous based. In the case of aqueous based compositions, thecarboxyl-containing resin is often in the form of an aqueous dispersionor solutions of a carboxyl-containing resin neutralized with aneutralizing agent. The neutralizing agent is not particularlyrestricted but includes, among others, organic amines such asmonomethylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, triethylamine,diisopropylamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine anddimethylethanolamine, and inorganic bases such as sodium hydroxide,potassium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide. The degree of neutralizationis not particularly restricted but can judiciously be selected accordingto the molecular weight and acid value of the resin and is, for example,20 to 120%.

In certain embodiments, the mole ratio of the total number ofcarbodiimide groups within the thermosetting coating composition to thetotal number of carboxylic acid groups within the composition is 0.05 to3/1, such as 0.05 to 2/1.

The thermosetting coating compositions can further include acrosslinking agent, different from the polycarbodiimides of the presentinvention, corresponding to the functional group within thecarboxyl-containing aqueous resin composition. When, for example, thecarboxyl-containing resin is a hydroxy-containing one, the auxiliarycrosslinking agent may be an amino resin or (blocked) polyisocyanate,for instance. It may comprise a single species or two or more species.As specific examples of the amino resin, there may be mentionedalkoxylated melamine-formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde condensationproducts, for example condensation products from an alkoxylatedmelamine-formaldehyde such as methoxymethylolmelamine,isobutoxymethylolmelamine or n-butoxymethylolmelamine, as well as suchcommercial products available under the trademark Cymel 303. As specificexamples of the above (blocked) polyisocyanate compound, there may bementioned polyisocyanates such as trimethylene diisocyanate,hexamethylene diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate andisophoronediisocyanate, and derivatives thereof obtained by addition ofan active hydrogen-containing blocking agent such as an alcohol compoundor an oxime compound and capable of regenerating an isocyanato group bydissociation of the blocking agent upon heating. The content of theauxiliary crosslinking agent is not particularly restricted but mayadequately be selected by one having an ordinary skill in the artaccording to the functional group value of the carboxyl-containingaqueous resin composition, the auxiliary crosslinking agent species andso forth.

In addition to the polycarbodiimides of the present invention, thecoating composition may comprise other components exhibit antimicrobialproperties, such as other monomeric or polymeric halogencounterion-containing onium compounds, such as quaternary compounds, asis the case with ammonium (NH₄+) and phosphonium (PH₄+) compounds,ternary compounds, as is the case with sulfonium (H₃S+) compounds, orbinary compounds, as is the case with fluoronium (H₂F+), chloronium,(H₂Cl+), bromonium (H₂Br+) and iodonium (H₂I+) compounds.

Specific examples of monomeric quaternary ammonium salts that aresuitable for use include, without limitation, tetraalkylammonium salts,trialkylarylammonium salts, dialkyldiarylammonium salts,alkyltriarylammonium salts, tetraarylammonium salts, cyclic ammoniumsalts and dicyclic ammonium salts.

Quaternary ammonium compounds that are suitable for use includechlorides, for example, dimethyl-didodecylammonium chloride,trimethyldodecylammonium chloride, dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride,trimethyloctadecylammonium chloride, dodecyldimethyl-onium chloride,di-methylditallowammonium chloride, trimethylsoyammonium chloride,methyldibutylbenzylammonium chloride, methyldihexylbenzylammoniumchloride, methyldioctylbenzylammonium chloride,methyldihexadecylbenzylammonium chloride, methylethyldidodecylammoniumchloride, methylhexadecylpyridinium chloride,trimethyldo-decyloxyphenylammonium chloride,dimethyldodecyl-methylallylammonium chloride,phenyldialkyloctadecyl-ammonium chloride,dimethylchlorobenzyloctylammonium chloride,dimethylheptadecyl-B-naphthylammonium chloride,N-stearamidomethyl-N-ethoxymethyl-N-dimethylammonium chloride,N-geranyl-N-dodecylpiperidinium chloride, N—N-dimethylpyrrolidiniumchloride, and methylalkylpolyoxyalkyleneammonium chloride.

Also suitable for use are quaternary ammonium bromides, such astetrabutylammonium bromide, tetrapentylammonium bromide,tetrahexylammonium bromide, tetraoctylammonium bromide,tetralaurylammonium bromide, tetraphenylammonium bromide,tetranaphthylammonium bromide, tetrastearylammonium bromide,lauryltrimethylammonium bromide, stearyltrimethylammonium bromide,behenyltrimethylammonium bromide, lauryltriethylammonium bromide,phenyltrimethylammonium bromide,3-trifluoromethylphenyltrimethylammonium bromide,benzyltrimethylammonium bromide, dibenzyldimethylammonium bromide,distearyldimethylammonium bromide, tristearylmethylammonium bromide,benzyltriethylammonium bromide, hydroxyphenyltrimethylammonium bromideand N-methylpyridinium bromide.

Inorganic antimicrobial agents are also suitable for use in the coatingcompositions. These materials often employ metals, especially silver,zinc, gold, and/or copper. Ionic forms of these metals are often used.

The coating compositions can further include additives as are commonlyknown in the art, such as surfactants, wetting agents, and colorants,among others. Typical additives include benzoin, used to reduceentrapped air or volatiles; flow aids or flow control agents which aidin the formation of a smooth and/or glossy surface, for example,MODAFLO® available from Monsanto Chemical Co., waxes such as MICROWAX® Cavailable from Hoechst, and fillers such as calcium carbonate, bariumsulfate and the like.

As used herein, the term “colorant” means any substance that impartscolor and/or other opacity and/or other visual effect to thecomposition. The colorant can be added to the composition in anysuitable form, such as discrete particles, dispersions, solutions and/orflakes. A single colorant or a mixture of two or more colorants can beused.

Example colorants include pigments, dyes and tints, such as those usedin the paint industry and/or listed in the Dry Color ManufacturersAssociation (DCMA), as well as special effect compositions. A colorantmay include, for example, a finely divided solid powder that isinsoluble but wettable under the conditions of use. A colorant can beorganic or inorganic and can be agglomerated or non-agglomerated.Colorants can be incorporated by use of a grind vehicle, such as anacrylic grind vehicle, the use of which will be familiar to one skilledin the art.

Example pigments and/or pigment compositions include, but are notlimited to, carbazole dioxazine crude pigment, azo, monoazo, disazo,naphthol AS, salt type (lakes), benzimidazolone, condensation, metalcomplex, isoindolinone, isoindoline and polycyclic phthalocyanine,quinacridone, perylene, perinone, diketopyrrolo pyrrole, thioindigo,anthraquinone, indanthrone, anthrapyrimidine, flavanthrone, pyranthrone,anthanthrone, dioxazine, triarylcarbonium, quinophthalone pigments,diketo pyrrolo pyrrole red (“DPPBO red”), titanium dioxide, carbon blackand mixtures thereof. The terms “pigment” and “colored filler” can beused interchangeably.

Example dyes include, but are not limited to, those that are solventand/or aqueous based such as pthalo green or blue, iron oxide, bismuthvanadate, anthraquinone, perylene, aluminum and quinacridone.

Example tints include, but are not limited to, pigments dispersed inwater-based or water miscible carriers such as AQUA-CHEM 896commercially available from Degussa, Inc., CHARISMA COLORANTS andMAXITONER INDUSTRIAL COLORANTS commercially available from AccurateDispersions division of Eastman Chemical, Inc.

As noted above, the colorant can be in the form of a dispersionincluding, but not limited to, a nanoparticle dispersion. Nanoparticledispersions can include one or more highly dispersed nanoparticlecolorants and/or colorant particles that produce a desired visible colorand/or opacity and/or visual effect. Nanoparticle dispersions caninclude colorants such as pigments or dyes having a particle size ofless than 150 nm, such as less than 70 nm, or less than 30 nm.Nanoparticles can be produced by milling stock organic or inorganicpigments with grinding media having a particle size of less than 0.5 mm.Example nanoparticle dispersions and methods for making them areidentified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,875,800 B2, which is incorporated hereinby reference. Nanoparticle dispersions can also be produced bycrystallization, precipitation, gas phase condensation, and chemicalattrition (i.e., partial dissolution). In order to minimizere-agglomeration of nanoparticles within the coating, a dispersion ofresin-coated nanoparticles can be used. As used herein, a “dispersion ofresin-coated nanoparticles” refers to a continuous phase in which isdispersed discreet “composite microparticles” that comprise ananoparticle and a resin coating on the nanoparticle. Exampledispersions of resin-coated nanoparticles and methods for making themare identified in United States Patent Application Publication2005-0287348 A1, filed Jun. 24, 2004, U.S. Provisional Application No.60/482,167 filed Jun. 24, 2003, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/337,062, filed Jan. 20, 2006, which is also incorporated herein byreference.

Example special effect compositions that may be used include pigmentsand/or compositions that produce one or more appearance effects such asreflectance, pearlescence, metallic sheen, phosphorescence,fluorescence, photochromism, photosensitivity, thermochromism,goniochromism and/or color-change. Additional special effectcompositions can provide other perceptible properties, such as opacityor texture. In certain embodiments, special effect compositions canproduce a color shift, such that the color of the coating changes whenthe coating is viewed at different angles. Example color effectcompositions are identified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,894,086, incorporatedherein by reference. Additional color effect compositions can includetransparent coated mica and/or synthetic mica, coated silica, coatedalumina, a transparent liquid crystal pigment, a liquid crystal coating,and/or any composition wherein interference results from a refractiveindex differential within the material and not because of the refractiveindex differential between the surface of the material and the air.

In certain embodiments, a photosensitive composition and/or photochromiccomposition, which reversibly alters its color when exposed to one ormore light sources, can be used. Photochromic and/or photosensitivecompositions can be activated by exposure to radiation of a specifiedwavelength. When the composition becomes excited, the molecularstructure is changed and the altered structure exhibits a new color thatis different from the original color of the composition. When theexposure to radiation is removed, the photochromic and/or photosensitivecomposition can return to a state of rest, in which the original colorof the composition returns. In certain embodiments, the photochromicand/or photosensitive composition can be colorless in a non-excitedstate and exhibit a color in an excited state. Full color-change canappear within milliseconds to several minutes, such as from 20 secondsto 60 seconds. Example photochromic and/or photosensitive compositionsinclude photochromic dyes.

In certain embodiments, the photosensitive composition and/orphotochromic composition can be associated with and/or at leastpartially bound to, such as by covalent bonding, a polymer and/orpolymeric materials of a polymerizable component. In contrast to somecoatings in which the photosensitive composition may migrate out of thecoating and crystallize into the substrate, the photosensitivecomposition and/or photochromic composition associated with and/or atleast partially bound to a polymer and/or polymerizable component, haveminimal migration out of the coating. Example photosensitivecompositions and/or photochromic compositions and methods for makingthem are identified in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/892,919 filed Jul.16, 2004, incorporated herein by reference.

In general, the colorant can be present in the coating composition inany amount sufficient to impart the desired visual and/or color effect.The colorant may comprise from 1 to 65 weight percent, such as from 3 to40 weight percent or 5 to 35 weight percent, with weight percent basedon the total weight of the composition.

The coating compositions can be prepared by any method well known to theone having an ordinary skill in the art using the above components asraw materials. A suitable method is illustrated in the Examples herein.

The coating compositions are suitable for application to any of avariety of substrates, including human and/or animal substrates, such askeratin, fur, skin, teeth, nails, and the like, as well as plants,trees, seeds, agricultural lands, such as grazing lands, crop lands andthe like; turf-covered land areas, e.g., lawns, golf courses, athleticfields, etc., and other land areas, such as forests and the like.

Suitable substrates include cellulosic-containing materials, includingpaper, paperboard, cardboard, plywood and pressed fiber boards,hardwood, softwood, wood veneer, particleboard, chipboard, orientedstrand board, and fiberboard. Such materials may be made entirely ofwood, such as pine, oak, maple, mahogany, cherry, and the like. In somecases, however, the materials may comprise wood in combination withanother material, such as a resinous material, i.e., wood/resincomposites, such as phenolic composites, composites of wood fibers andthermoplastic polymers, and wood composites reinforced with cement,fibers, or plastic cladding.

Suitable metallic substrates include, but are not limited to, foils,sheets, or workpieces constructed of cold rolled steel, stainless steeland steel surface-treated with any of zinc metal, zinc compounds andzinc alloys (including electrogalvanized steel, hot-dipped galvanizedsteel, GALVANNEAL steel, and steel plated with zinc alloy), copper,magnesium, and alloys thereof, aluminum alloys, zinc-aluminum alloyssuch as GALFAN, GALVALUME, aluminum plated steel and aluminum alloyplated steel substrates may also be used. Steel substrates (such as coldrolled steel or any of the steel substrates listed above) coated with aweldable, zinc-rich or iron phosphide-rich organic coating are alsosuitable for use. Such weldable coating compositions are disclosed in,for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,157,924 and 4,186,036. Cold rolled steelis also suitable when pretreated with, for example, a solution selectedfrom the group consisting of a metal phosphate solution, an aqueoussolution containing at least one Group IIIB or IVB metal, anorganophosphate solution, an organophosphonate solution, andcombinations thereof. Also, suitable metallic substrates include silver,gold, and alloys thereof.

Examples of suitable silicatic substrates are glass, porcelain andceramics.

Examples of suitable polymeric substrates are polystyrene, polyamides,polyesters, polyethylene, polypropylene, melamine resins, polyacrylates,polyacrylonitrile, polyurethanes, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chloride,polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinylpyrrolidones andcorresponding copolymers and block copolymers, biodegradable polymersand natural polymers—such as gelatin.

Examples of suitable textile substrates are fibers, yarns, threads,knits, wovens, nonwovens and garments composed of polyester, modifiedpolyester, polyester blend fabrics, nylon, cotton, cotton blend fabrics,jute, flax, hemp and ramie, viscose, wool, silk, polyamide, polyamideblend fabrics, polyacrylonitrile, triacetate, acetate, polycarbonate,polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester microfibers and glass fiberfabric.

Examples of suitable leather substrates are grain leather (e.g. nappafrom sheep, goat or cow and box-leather from calf or cow), suede leather(e.g. velours from sheep, goat or calf and hunting leather), splitvelours (e.g. from cow or calf skin), buckskin and nubuk leather;further also woolen skins and furs (e.g. fur-bearing suede leather). Theleather may have been tanned by any conventional tanning method, inparticular vegetable, mineral, synthetic or combined tanned (e.g. chrometanned, zirconyl tanned, aluminium tanned or semi-chrome tanned). Ifdesired, the leather may also be re-tanned; for re-tanning there may beused any tanning agent conventionally employed for re-tanning, e.g.mineral, vegetable or synthetic tanning agents, e.g., chromium, zirconylor aluminium derivatives, quebracho, chestnut or mimosa extracts,aromatic syntans, polyurethanes, (co)polymers of (meth)acrylic acidcompounds or melamine, dicyanodiamide and/or urea/formaldehyde resins.

Examples of suitable compressible substrates include foam substrates,polymeric bladders filled with liquid, polymeric bladders filled withair and/or gas, and/or polymeric bladders filled with plasma. As usedherein the term “foam substrate” means a polymeric or natural materialthat comprises a open cell foam and/or closed cell foam. As used herein,the term “open cell foam” means that the foam comprises a plurality ofinterconnected air chambers. As used herein, the term “closed cell foam”means that the foam comprises a series of discrete closed pores. Examplefoam substrates include polystyrene foams, polymethacrylimide foams,polyvinylchloride foams, polyurethane foams, polypropylene foams,polyethylene foams, and polyolefinic foams. Example polyolefinic foamsinclude polypropylene foams, polyethylene foams and/or ethylene vinylacetate (EVA) foam. EVA foam can include flat sheets or slabs or moldedEVA forms, such as shoe mid soles. Different types of EVA foam can havedifferent types of surface porosity. Molded EVA can comprise a densesurface or “skin”, whereas flat sheets or slabs can exhibit a poroussurface.

The coating compositions can be applied to such substrates by any of avariety of methods including dipping or immersion, spraying,intermittent spraying, dipping followed by spraying, spraying followedby dipping, brushing, or roll-coating, among other methods. In certainembodiments, however, the coating compositions are applied by sprayingand, accordingly, such compositions often have a viscosity that issuitable for application by spraying at ambient conditions.

After application of the coating composition to the substrate, thecomposition is allowed to coalesce to form a substantially continuousfilm on the substrate. Typically, the film thickness will be 0.01 to 20mils (about 0.25 to 508 microns), such as 0.01 to 5 mils (0.25 to 127microns), or, in some cases, 0.1 to 2 mils (2.54 to 50.8 microns) inthickness. A method of forming a coating film, therefore, comprisesapplying a coating composition to the surface of a substrate or articleto be coated, coalescing the coating composition to form a substantiallycontinuous film and then curing the thus-obtained coating. The curing ofthese coatings can comprise a flash at ambient or elevated temperaturesfollowed by a thermal bake. The method of forming a coating film usesthe above described coating composition and, even when the bakingtemperature is relatively low, curing is possible. Curing can occur atambient temperature of 20° C. to 175° C.

The coating compositions can be applied as a primer or primer surfacer,or as a topcoat, for example, a “monocoat”. The coating compositionsalso can be advantageously employed as a topcoat in a multi-componentcomposite coating composition. Such a multi-component composite coatingcomposition generally comprises a base coat deposited from afilm-forming composition and a topcoat applied over the base coat, thetopcoat being deposited from a coating composition as described above.In certain embodiments, the multi-component composite coatingcomposition is a color-plus-clear system where the basecoat is depositedfrom a pigmented film-forming coating composition and the topcoat isdeposited from a coating composition which is substantiallypigment-free, i.e., a clear coat. In certain embodiments, a coatingcomposition described herein is used to deposit one or more of thecoating layers deposited in the processes disclosed in United StatesPatent Application Publication No. 2004-0159555 and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/845,324, both of which being incorporated hereinby reference. In certain embodiments, a coating composition as describedherein is used to deposit one or more of the coating layers deposited ina “wet-on-wet” coating process wherein two or more, sometimes threecoating layers (such as primer, basecoat, and clearcoat), are deposited,and then all the coating layers are cured simultaneously.

The film-forming composition from which the base coat is deposited canbe any of the compositions useful in coatings applications for example,in automotive applications where color-plus-clear systems are most oftenused. A film-forming composition conventionally comprises a resinousbinder and a colorant. Particularly useful resinous binders includeacrylic polymers, polyesters including alkyds, and polyurethanes.

The resinous binders for the base coat can be organic solvent-basedmaterials, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,679.Water-based coating compositions, such as those described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,403,003; 4,147,679; and 5,071,904, also can be used as the basecoat composition.

The base coat film-forming compositions are typically applied to thesubstrate such that a cured base coat having a film thickness rangingfrom 0.5 to 4 mils (12.5 to 100 micrometers) is formed thereon.

After forming a film of the base coat on the substrate, the base coatcan be cured or alternatively given a drying step in which solvent,i.e., organic solvent and/or water, is driven off by heating or an airdrying step before application of the clear coat. Suitable dryingconditions will depend on the particular base coat film-formingcomposition and on the ambient humidity with certain water-basedcompositions. In general, a drying time ranging from 1 to 15 minutes ata temperature of 75° F. to 200° F. (21° C. to 93° C.) is adequate. Thethermosetting water-borne coating composition may also contain acolorant. As used herein, the term “colorant” means any substance thatimparts color and/or other opacity and/or other visual effect to thecomposition. The colorant can be added to the coating in any suitableform, such as discrete particles, dispersions, solutions and/or flakes.A single colorant or a mixture of two or more colorants can be used inthe coatings.

The antimicrobial coatings described herein have a wide variety ofapplications. For example, the coatings can be used to coat surfaces ofcommon objects touched by people in everyday lives, such as doorknobs,children's toys, and the like. In certain embodiments, however, thecoatings are particularly desirable for use on consumer electronicsdevices, such as, telephones, including cell phones and smart phones,personal digital assistants, personal computers, digital cameras, or thelike.

Illustrating the invention are the following examples that are not to beconsidered as limiting the invention to their details. All parts andpercentages in the examples, as well as throughout the specification,are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLES Example 1

A quaternary ammonium ion terminated polycarbodiimide was made using theingredients and amounts listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Raw Materials Parts by Weight Charge #1 Desmodur W¹ 51.6Phospholene oxide 0.77 Charge #2 Methylisobutyl Ketone 31.36 Charge #3Dibutyltin dilaurate 0.0047 Ethylene glycol 2.14 Charge #4 Dibutyltindilaurate 0.0738 Choline Bromide² 10.77 Charge #5 Dowanol PM 40.6¹Desmodur W is methylene-bis-(4-cyclohexyldiisocyanate) from BayerMaterials Science, LLC. ²Choline bromide from TCI America.

Charge #1 was added to a 1-liter, 4-necked flask equipped with a motordriven stainless steel stir blade, a water-cooled condenser, a nitrogeninlet, and a heating mantle with a thermometer connected through atemperature feedback control device. The contents of the flask wereheated to 140° C. and held at that temperature until the isocyanateequivalent weight measured >350 eq/g by titration. The temperature wasthen decreased to 95° C. and Charge #2 was added. Charge #3 was addedover 15 min and the reaction mixture was held at 90-100° C. until theNCO equivalent weight stalled at about 1200 eq/g. Charge #4 was addedand the mixture was held at 90-100° C. until IR spectroscopy showed theabsence of the characteristic NCO band. MIBK was stripped off at >100 mmHg and was dissolved in charge #5 at 95° C. A sample of thepolycarbodiimide dispersion was placed in a 120° F. hot room for 4weeks, and the resin remained liquid.

Example 2

A quaternary ammonium ion terminated polycarbodiimide was made using theingredients and amounts listed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Raw Materials Parts by Weight Charge #1 Desmodur W¹ 36.87Phospholene oxide 0.55 Charge #2 Methylisobutyl Ketone 23.04 Charge #3Dibutyltin dilaurate 0.0033 Choline Iodide² 20.69 Charge #4 Dowanol PM46.09 ¹Desmodur W is methylene-bis-(4-cyclohexyldiisocyanate) from BayerMaterials Science, LLC. ²Choline Iodide from TCI America.

Charge #1 was added to a 1-liter, 4-necked flask equipped with a motordriven stainless steel stir blade, a water-cooled condenser, a nitrogeninlet, and a heating mantle with a thermometer connected through atemperature feedback control device. The contents of the flask wereheated to 140° C. and held at that temperature until the isocyanateequivalent weight measured >350 eq/g by titration. The temperature wasthen decreased to 95° C. and dissolved in Charge #2. Charge #3 was addedover 15 min and the reaction mixture was held at 90-100° C. until thereis no characteristic NCO band by IR. MIBK was stripped off at >100 mm Hgand was dissolved in charge #5 at 95° C. A sample of thepolycarbodiimide dispersion was placed in a 120° F. hot room for 4weeks, and the resin remained liquid.

Example 3

A N,N-Dimethylethanolamine terminated polycarbodiimide was made usingthe ingredients and amounts listed in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Raw Materials Parts by Weight Charge #1 Desmodur W¹ 51.3Phospholene oxide 0.77 Charge #2 Methylisobutyl Ketone 31.14 Charge #3Dibutyltin dilaurate 0.0046 Ethylene glycol 2.09 Charge #4 Dibutyltindilaurate 0.055 N,N-Dimethylethanolamine 5.661 Charge #5 Dowanol PM45.80 ¹Desmodur W is methylene-bis-(4-cyclohexyldiisocyanate) from BayerMaterials Science, LLC.

Charge #1 was added to a 3-liter, 4-necked flask equipped with a motordriven stainless steel stir blade, a water-cooled condenser, a nitrogeninlet, and a heating mantle with a thermometer connected through atemperature feedback control device. The contents of the flask wereheated to 140° C. and held at that temperature until the isocyanateequivalent weight measured ˜350 eq/g by titration. The temperature wasthen decreased to 95° C. and Charge #2 was added. Charge #3 was addedover 15 min and the reaction mixture was held at 90-100° C. until theNCO equivalent weight stalled at about 1200 eq/g. Charge #4 was addedand the mixture was held at 90-100° C. until IR spectroscopy showed theabsence of the characteristic NCO band. MIBK was stripped off at >100 mmHg and was dissolved in charge #5 at 95° C. A sample of thepolycarbodiimide dispersion was placed in a 120° F. hot room for 4weeks, and the resin remained liquid.

Example 4

A N,N-Dimethylethanolamine terminated polycarbodiimide was made usingthe ingredients and amounts listed in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Raw Materials Parts by Weight Charge #1 Desmodur W¹ 64.10Phospholene oxide 0.96 Charge #2 Methylisobutyl Ketone 17.17 Charge #3Dibutyltin dilaurate 0.0057 N,N-Dimethylethanolamine 13.73 Charge #4Methanol 28.61 ¹Desmodur W is methylene-bis-(4-cyclohexyldiisocyanate)from Bayer Materials Science, LLC.

Charge #1 was added to a 1-liter, 4-necked flask equipped with a motordriven stainless steel stir blade, a water-cooled condenser, a nitrogeninlet, and a heating mantle with a thermometer connected through atemperature feedback control device. The contents of the flask wereheated to 140° C. and held at that temperature until the isocyanateequivalent weight measured >350 eq/g by titration. The temperature wasthen decreased to 95° C. and dissolved in Charge #2. Charge #3 was addedover 15 min and the reaction mixture was held at 90-100° C. until thereis no characteristic NCO band by IR. MIBK was stripped off at >100 mm Hgand was dissolved in charge #5 at 95° C. A sample of thepolycarbodiimide dispersion was placed in a 120° F. hot room for 4weeks, and the resin remained liquid.

Example 5

This example describes the quaternization of a N,N-Dimethylethanolamineterminated polycarbodiimide using the ingredients and amounts listed inTable 5.

TABLE 5 Raw Materials Parts by Weight Charge #1 Product of Example 442.24 Charge #2 Potassium Carbonate 8.87 Charge #3 Methanol 16.89 Charge#4 Dodecylbromide¹ 31.98 ¹Dodecylbromide was purchased fromSigma-Aldrich.

Charge #1 (71% solids in methanol) was added to a 500 mL, 4-necked flaskequipped with a motor driven stainless steel stir blade, a water-cooledcondenser, a nitrogen inlet, and a heating mantle with a thermometerconnected through a temperature feedback control device. Charge #2-4were added over 15 min and the reaction mixture was heated to 65-70° C.The resulting mixture was held at 65-70° C. until there is noDodecylbromide by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). A sample of thepolycarbodiimide dispersion was placed in a 120° F. hot room for 4weeks, and the resin remained liquid.

Example 6

A pendant quaternary ammonium ion containing polycarbodiimide was madeusing the ingredients and amounts listed in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Raw Materials Parts by Weight Charge #1 Product of Example 365.59 Charge #2 Betaine Hydrochloride 8.17 Charge #3 Dowanol PM 26.23¹Betaine Hydrochloride from Sigma-Aldrich.

Charge #1 (54% solids in Dowanol PM) was added to a 500-mL, 4-neckedflask equipped with a motor driven stainless steel stir blade, awater-cooled condenser, a nitrogen inlet, and a heating mantle with athermometer connected through a temperature feedback control device.Charge #2 was added at room temperature and heated to 60° C. Thecontents were held at that temperature until no change of NCO signal byIR. Charge #3 was added as a diluent. A sample of the polycarbodiimidedispersion was placed in a 120° F. hot room for 4 weeks, and the resinremained liquid.

Example 7

A pendant quaternary ammonium ion polycarbodiimide was made using theingredients and amounts listed in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Raw Materials Parts by Weight Charge #1 Product of Example 464.37 Charge #2 Betaine Hydrochloride 9.88 Charge #3 Dowanol PM 25.74¹Betaine Hydrochloride from Sigma-Aldrich.

Charge #1 (53% solids in Dowanol PM) was added to a 500-mL, 4-neckedflask equipped with a motor driven stainless steel stir blade, awater-cooled condenser, a nitrogen inlet, and a heating mantle with athermometer connected through a temperature feedback control device.Charge #2 was added at room temperature and heated to 60° C. Thecontents were held at that temperature until no change of NCO signal byIR. Charge #3 was added as a diluent. A sample of the polycarbodiimidedispersion was placed in a 120° F. hot room for 4 weeks, and the resinremained liquid.

Example 8

A pendant and terminal quaternary ammonium ion containingpolycarbodiimide was made using the ingredients and amounts listed inTable 8.

TABLE 8 Raw Materials Parts by Weight Charge #1 Product of Example 267.20 Charge #2 Betaine Hydrochloride 5.91 Charge #3 Dowanol PM 26.9¹Betaine Hydrochloride from Sigma-Aldrich.

Charge #1 (47% solids in Methanol) was added to a 250-mL, 4-necked flaskequipped with a motor driven stainless steel stir blade, a water-cooledcondenser, a nitrogen inlet, and a heating mantle with a thermometerconnected through a temperature feedback control device. Charge #2 wasadded at room temperature and heated to 60° C. The contents were held atthat temperature until no NCO signal by IR. Charge #3 was added as adiluent. A sample of the polycarbodiimide dispersion was placed in a120° F. hot room for 4 weeks, and the resin remained liquid.

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been describedabove for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilledin the art that numerous variations of the details of the presentinvention may be made without departing from the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A polycarbodiimide comprising an unbranched backbone andterminal onium salt groups, wherein the terminal onium salt groupscomprise a trialkyl onium group and a halogen counterion.
 2. Thepolycarbodiimide of claim 1, wherein the polycarbodiimide has thestructure:

in which: (a) each R is an unbranched, divalent linking group and eachmay be the same or different; (b) R₁ is A when y is 1 and is the residueof an active hydrogen-containing chain extender when y is at least 2;(c) n has a value of at least 2; (d) y has a value of 1 to 4; and (e)each A is represented by the structure:

in which: (1) each X is N or P and may be the same or different; (2)each Y is a halogen and may be the same or different; (3) each Z is O,NH, or Sand may be the same or different; (4) each R₃ is an unbranched,divalent linking group and may be the same or different; and (5) each R₄is a monovalent hydrocarbon group and may be the same or different. 3.The polycarbodiimide of claim 1, wherein the polycarbodiimide has thestructure:

in which: (a) each R is an unbranched, divalent linking group and eachmay be the same or different; (b) each R₂ is an unbranched, linkinggroup and may be the same or different; (c) each X is O, NH, or S andmay be the same or different; (d) n has a value of at least 2; (e) p hasa value of 1 to 3; and (f) each A is represented by the structure:

in which: (1) each X is N or P and may be the same or different; (2)each Y is a halogen and may be the same or different; (3) each Z is O,NH, or S and may be the same or different; (4) each R₃ is an unbranched,divalent linking group and may be the same or different; and (5) each R₄is a monovalent hydrocarbon group and may be the same or different. 4.The polycarbodiimide of claim 2, wherein y is
 1. 5. The polycarbodiimideof claim 2, wherein n has a value of 2 to
 10. 6. The polycarbodiimide ofclaim 3, wherein n has a value of 2 to
 10. 7. The polycarbodiimide ofclaim 1, wherein the halogen counterion comprises a chlorine ion.
 8. Thepolycarbodiimide of claim 1, wherein the trialkyl onium group comprisestrimethylammonium.
 9. The polycarbodiimide of claim 1, wherein thepolycarbodiimide comprises a unit having the general structure:

wherein: (a) X is N or P; (b) Y is an anion; (c) R₆ is a divalentlinking group; and (d) each R₇ is a monovalent hydrocarbon group and maybe the same or different.
 10. The polycarbodiimide of claim 9, wherein Xis N.
 11. The polycarbodiimide of claim 9, wherein Y is a halogen.
 12. Apolycarbodiimide comprising an unbranched backbone and terminal trialkylonium salt groups.
 13. The polycarbodiimide of claim 12, wherein thepolycarbodiimide comprises repeat units having the general structure:

wherein: (a) X is N or P; (b) Y is an anion; (c) R₆ is a divalentlinking group; and (d) each R₇ is a monovalent hydrocarbon group and maybe the same or different.
 14. The polycarbodiimide of claim 13, whereinX is N.
 15. The polycarbodiimide of claim 13, wherein Y is a halogen.16. The polycarbodiimide of claim 12, wherein the polycarbodiimide hasthe structure (VIII) or (IX):

in which: (a) each R₈ is an unbranched, divalent linking group and eachmay be the same or different; (b) R₉ is A when y is 1 and is the residueof an active hydrogen-containing chain extender when y is at least 2;(c) each R₁₀ is an unbranched, linking group and may be the same ordifferent; (d) each X is O, NH, or S and may be the same or different;(e) each n has a value of at least 1 and may be the same or differentwherein at least one n has a value of at least 2; (f) y has a value of 1to 4; (g) p has a value of 1 to 3; (h) each A represents a terminalgroup; (i) each A₁ represents a unit having the general structure (VIII)or a —N═C═N— unit; and (j) each A₂ represents a unit having thestructure:

wherein R₈ is as defined above.
 17. The polycarbodiimide of claim 16,wherein n has a value of 2 to
 10. 18. The polycarbodiimide of claim 2,wherein the monovalent hydrocarbon group comprises one of a methylgroup, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a isopropyl group, a iso-butylgroup, a t-butyl group, a n-butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group,a heptyl group, a octyl group, a nonyl group, a decyl group, and adodecyl group.
 19. The polycarbodiimide of claim 3, wherein themonovalent hydrocarbon group comprises one of a methyl group, an ethylgroup, a propyl group, a isopropyl group, a iso-butyl group, a t-butylgroup, a n-butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, aoctyl group, a nonyl group, a decyl group, and a dodecyl group.
 20. Thepolycarbodiimide of claim 9, wherein the monovalent hydrocarbon groupcomprises one of a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, aisopropyl group, a iso-butyl group, a t-butyl group, a n-butyl group, apentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, a octyl group, a nonylgroup, a decyl group, and a dodecyl group.